Sam & Max Episode 205: What's New Beelzebub? (PC) Review
Posted by Ramon Aranda on 04.18.2008
Does Sam & Max's latest adventure fail to impress or is it a "hell" of a good time?
SAM & MAX TO THE RESCUE
Oh, those Sam & Max detectives, is there any mischief they won’t get into? The dynamic duo has returned for their Season Two finale in “What’s New Beelzebub?” and their troubles only get worse. In the final episode of the season, Sam & Max find themselves underground as Bosco has fallen to his death. Of course, they’re none too happy about it and after they speak to Death, they set a course to find Bosco’s soul and bring it back to where it belongs.
Hi, we're here about your soul problem
For those who haven’t tried out a Sam & Max game, the game plays out like a point-and-click adventure. You take the role of Sam who is the lead detective as you work together with Max to figure out what to do next. If you have the Hints settings set to off, unless you’re a seasoned veteran, you’ll find that it can be pretty difficult to figure out what to do. At times you’ll have to do something quite obscure or simply talk to every character before a new option or cutscene opens up. Having some hints available can be pretty invaluable and rather than have them presented to you in a very obvious manner, it is Max who dishes out phrases that give you a hint as to what your next objective should be. The hints actually play out quite well as the fit into what’s currently happening. You’ll find yourself needing to collect certain items that you may not use for quite some time, so it’s always important to look at every single item and plot out what it can be used for. This is a game that really makes your brain work and is catered to the older gamer.
Who needs a highway to hell when you have train tracks?
The style of the game takes on a humorous take on the noir theme and the great cast of characters makes you want to talk to them as often as possible. Every character has a unique personality that really shines through. The voice acting is done extremely well to the point where the conversations draw you into the game’s world. One of my favorite characters from this episode was a giant robot who spits out lyrics from some random songs that’ll make you laugh. Though the cast is quite humorous, it’s Sam & Max that really make you giggle. The chemistry between the two is well written out and their playful tones make for some great comedy. Max in particular has some very sarcastic and hilarious remarks in particular when he’s in hell.
Graphically the game looks pretty good. I ran it on Windows XP with 2GB of RAM and an SLI configuration with my graphics cards and I had absolutely no problems getting it to run on high. There are still some slight hiccups but those are usually reserved for when the game is transitioning from one area to the next as it takes a few moments to load. The music is quite infectious and the themes give you the sense that you’re watching a detective cartoon. Sound effects are quite entertaining as well, as I found myself laughing the first time I heard Max making fart noises with his armpits. There are little instances like that in which you have to look out for to get the most out of the game. The tongue and cheek humor is executed pretty well whether it’s through dialogue, facial expressions or physical comedy.
Getting back to the story, the tandem do in fact make their way to hell as they search for Bosco’s soul but things get a little hairy when they realize there are other trapped souls in hell besides his. As the duo try to get some answers, they come across Satan who is anything but helpful to them. Busy with the day to day routines, Satan won’t even give you the time of day to answer any questions, so it is up to you to make him listen. And what better way to make him listen then by bringing down his entire corporation? To do that though, you’ll have to help out the other poor souls who need to find a way out. I don’t want to give away too much of what goes on but let’s just say that you’ll need to shrink down to size to lend a helping hand.
Hmm..I think the death toll could be a bit higher guys
The 411
Sam & Max Episode 205: What’s New Beelzebub? is an entertaining breathe of fresh air when you look at other video games out in the market. The off-color sense of humor keeps you coming back for more and the difficult puzzles will have you glued to your monitor in search of the next clue. A detective story it is, but Sam & Max combine the genre with some hilarious moments and a little bit of spoofing that will satisfy your need to laugh while putting your brain through hell [pun intended]. A great way to end the season!
Graphics
7.5
Very clean look with only a few dips in framerate.
Gameplay
7.5
Straight forward point-and-click interface; puzzles can be challenging.
Sound
8.5
Tunes are catchy and the dialogue is very well put together.
Lasting Appeal
6.0
Not much to do after beating the game though you can collect more decals for your car.
Fun Factor
8.5
Pretty enjoyable adventure that will make you laugh if you've got the sense of humor for it.
